By Andy Wright

January 1, 1999

Age: 23

Home: Salt Lake City, Utah

Sponsors: Nitro, Volcom, Dragon, and Milosport

There are few people you will come upon in your life who will leave the sort of impression you get from meeting Tonino Copene. The words loud, obnoxious, and downright offensive are usually the first to come to mind, and no matter how sound you believe your judgment to be, eventually you will want to be his friend. Maybe it's his sincere obsession with 80s metal that will win you over. Perhaps it's the seasoned, fur-lined Levi's jacket he's rarely without. Whatever the reason, I can personally assure you there are many things about this 23-year-old Utah native that are hard not to like.

On the hill his snowboarding picks up where his personality leaves off. Since the not-so-innocent age of fourteen, Tonino's been overhauling his shred skills on the once uninhabited slopes of Brighton. He was a local here at a time before there was any such thing. As snowboarding's epicenter has shifted to focus on this geographic region in recent years, Tonino's talents have evolved with the best of them. It's here you'll find him dressed all in black-blasting Twisted Sister alongside Brandon Ruff and many other companions. Considering his proven immortality (he's rolled the last three vehicles he's owned) and the support of sponsors like Nitro, Volcom, Dragon, and Milosport, Tonino's reign of terror is sure to continue well into the new millennium.